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GUILTY BUT NOT CHARGED: SAUDI ARABIA’S UNCERTAIN SENTENCE

Written by Zachary Tan

International uproar over the murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has resulted in swift condemnation and threats of sanctions on Saudi Arabia to come clean. Khashoggi was a prominent critic of the Saudi government and was suspected to be murdered at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. While Saudi Arabia has admitted on state television that Khashoggi was indeed murdered when “a fight broke out” in the consulate, contrary evidence of an interrogation by Saudi agents remains plausible. Khashoggi’s remains have yet to be found. The US has threatened action as an international investigation is underway. However, it is unclear how effective US actions will change as a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia hangs in question. As foreign investments pull out of Saudi Arabia over this diplomatic crisis, the world’s largest exporter of oil has responded that it will take measures to upset the global economy if it continues to be punished for Khashoggi’s death.